HOUSTON - Rice pitchers Jordan Stephens and Zech Lemond combined to allow just one run on seven hits and junior catcher John Clay Reeves delivered the game winning RBI double in the seventh inning to pace the Rice baseball team to a 3-1 victory over visiting Purdue Friday evening at Reckling Park.

The Owls struck first for a run in the bottom of the second on Connor Teykl's sacrifice fly and that appeared it might be all the room Stephens would need in his second start of the season. The junior from Alvin, Texas, kept Purdue off the scoreboard for the first five innings by scattering three hits while striking out five.

The Boilermakers rallied for a game-tying run in the top of the sixth, but the Owls came right back in the bottom of the frame. Shane Hoelscher drew a leadoff with a walk and John Williamson moved into scoring position with a sacrifice. Reeves followed with an RBI double to left to break the deadlock, 2-1, but the Blue & Gray wasn't finished. Teykl singled Reeves home with a two-out base hit up the middle for a 3-1 advantage.

Stephens worked a full seven innings on the night, finishing with seven strikeouts. Lemond pitched the final two scoreless innings where he earned his second save of the season. The stopper from Houston allowed two hits without any walks with one strikeout.

Rice improved to 4-2 on the season. The Boilermakers are 0-4. The second game of the weekend set is scheduled for Saturday at 2 pm at Reckling Park.